Manway removal apparatus

ABSTRACT

A manway closure removal apparatus for use with an enclosed housing having an elliptical manway opening which is smaller in area than an elliptical manway closure which is mounted in the housing. The apparatus includes a linkage which is operatively connected to the manway closure for movement of the manway closure into a position within the cylinder which is spaced-apart from the manway opening, and after rotating the closure substantially 90*, it is possible to pivot the manway closure through the manway opening into an exterior position with respect to the housing.

Unite Mates Meat Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee William James Bow Morristown, NJ.

Aug. 15, l 968 Feb. 2, 1971 Foster Wheeler Corporation Livingston, N].

a corporation of New York MANWAY REMOVAL APPARATUS 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl Int. Cl Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 27l,4ll 1/1942 Thwaits 220/25 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Allorneyin-Constantine A Michalos. John Maier, Ill and Marvin A. Naigur ABSTRACT: A manway closure removal apparatus for use with an enclosed housing having an elliptical manway opening which is smaller in area than an elliptical manway closure which is mounted in the housing. The apparatus includes a linkage which is operatively connected to the manway closure for movement ofthe manway closure into a position within the cylinder which is spaced-apart from the manway opening, and after rotating the closure substantially 90, it is possible to pivot the manway closure through the manway opening into an exterior position with respect to the housing.

PATENTEDFEB 2mm 35591838 SHEET 1. OF 2 IN VENTOR.

WILLIAM J. Bow

AT TORNE Y PATENIED FEB 2mm 3; 559.838

sum 2 OF 2 g": I 7 E H 1 I INVENTOR.

WILLIAM J. Bow

ATTORNEY BY I MANWAY REMOVAL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the operation of power-generating systems, it is necessary to provide means for access to various types of enclosed housings which are generally spherical in shape. These housings generally consist of vessels which are required to be maintained under high pressure conditions. Accordingly. when a manway opening is provided in this type of high pressure vessel it is necessary to use extremely heavy manway covers which are capable of sustaining the high pressure conditions. The general practice has been to form an elliptical manway opening in the high pressure vessel and provide an elliptically shaped manway cover which is greater in the area than the area of the manway opening. In this manner, the manway cover can be mounted within the pressure vessel, such that the manway cover is seated along the perimeter edge of the manway opening. Thus, the pressure exerted from within the cylinder against the manway cover forms a gastight seal between the manway cover and the interior of the pressure vessel.

In order to remove the manway cover from the pressure vessel, it is necessary to first move the manway cover free of its seat and rotate it substantially 90 and then move the cover away from its seat within the pressure vessel. In this manner, it is possible to bring the minor axis of the ellipse defining the manway cover into a plane which is substantially parallel and coextensive with the plane of the major axis of the ellipse defining the manway opening. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the necessary clearance to remove the manway cover through the manway opening.

Due to the necessity of manipulating the manway cover and its relatively heavy weight, it has been found to be extremely difficult to remove the manway cover in order to perform the normal inspection and maintenance attendant with the operation of large power-generating systems.

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus has been provided which enables an operator to easily remove the manway cover without the necessity of complicated mechanical devices. Accordingly, by providing a fixed fitting on the exterior of each pressure vessel adjacent to the manway opening, it is possible to utilize a single manway removal apparatus for the large number of pressure vessels. Thus, the apparatus of the instant invention can be removably secured and used to rotate the manway cover into a position such that it is possible to pivot the cover through the manway opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for the removal of a manway cover from a housing having an internal chamber formed with a manway opening which is smaller in area than the manway cover. There is provided means for rotating the manway cover substantially 90 in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of the manway opening. Operatively connected to the manway cover is a linkage means exteriorly mounted on the housing for moving the manway cover into a tilted position within the internal chamber which is spaced-apart from the manway opening. Thus, the manway cover is capable of being pivoted out of the internal chamber through the manway opening into a position exterior to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above brief description, as well as further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred by but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational ,view of a manway removal apparatus shown in a solid line view, with a manway cover positioned on the manway opening of a pressure vessel. a portion of which is shown in cross section, with a broken line view showing the manway cover rotated substantially in a rearward tilted position, and another partial broken line view showing the manway cover in a forward tilted position which is exterior to the pressure vessel;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 to more clearly shown the linkage structure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, to more clearly show the linkage means of the manway removal apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the manway cover and the portion of the pressure vessel of F IG. 1, showing the manway cover in its seated position; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 4 with a broken line view showing the manway cover rotated substantially 90.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a manway removal apparatus generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which is used in connection with a pressure vessel housing 12 that is formed with an internal chamber 14. The pressure vessel housing 12 has a manway opening 16 which is surrounded by a cover seat 18. A manway cover 20 having a generally elliptical configuration is mounted on cover seat 18 inside of internal chamber 14. The manway opening 16 and cover seat 18 are also formed with an elliptical configuration, with the cover seat 18 having an opening 22 which is smaller in area than the area of the manway cover 20. In this manner, the outer edge along the perimeter of manway cover 20 is in contact with cover seat 18, such that the internal pressure, within internal chamber 14, forms a gastight seal between manway cover 20 and the cover seat opening 22.

The manway removal apparatus 10 comprises a double arm linkage 24 Operatively connected between the exterior of manway cover 20 and the exterior of pressure vessel 12. A pair of support arms 26 are fixed to the pressure vessel housing 12 along the outer portion of cover seat 18. The doublearm linkage 24 includes a double-arm lever link 28 which is pivotally connected between the support arms 26 by means of support links 30 and a removable pivot pin 32.

Each of the lever links 28 are integrally formed with a base arm 34 and arcuate arm 36. The lever links 28 are joined together in spaced-apart relationship by means of rods 38, 40 and 42 between the base arms 34 and rod 44 between the arcuate arms 36. It should be noted that the base arm 34 and arcuate arm 36 are sized and shaped to allow the manway cover to swing clear of the cover seat 18 adjacent to the cover seat opening 22.

The support links 30 are mounted between base arms 34 by means of an upper pin 48 and a lower pin 50. Formed in base arms 34 are coextensively positioned arcuate slots 52 for receiving lower pin 50. The upper pin 48 allows for pivotal movement of the lever arm link 28, such that the lower pin 50 can be moved in arcuate slots 52 until proper adjustment of double arm linkage 24 is achieved in relation to the manway cover 20. For this purpose of adjusting the position of lever link 26 in relation to manway cover 20, there is provided an adjustment nut 54 and washer 55.

The arcuate arms 36 are secured to the outer surface of manway cover 20 by means of a plate link 56 having a central through opening 58, and the plate link 56 is pivoted for movement on pin 44 between arcuate arms 36. As best shown in FIG. 3, at the center of the manway cover 20, there outwardly extends a threaded stud 60 which is formed with a square outer tip 62. It is preferable to secure the externally threaded stud 60 to manway cover 20 by forming a bore which does not extend completely through the cover 20, such that the stud 60 can be completely the threaded into the manway cover 20. In this manner, the manway cover can be mounted to plate link 56 by inserting threaded stud 60 through central opening 58 and securing manway cover 20 by means of an internally threaded mounting nut 64. As will hereinafter be more fully described, by completely threading mounting nut 64 against the bottom of the plate link 56, it is possible to securely fix manway cover 20 to plate link 56, whereas by loosening the mounting nut 64, the manway cover 20 can be rotated by means of the outer tip 62.

The plate link 56 is constrained against pivotal movement by a yoke 70 that is mounted between the upstanding side arms of plate link 56 by means of a pair of stud pins 72. The yoke 70 is provided with a through opening for receiving a threaded shaft 76 which is secured by means of a pair of internally threaded collars 78. The lower portion of shaft 72 is received in an internally threaded bore 80 which is formed through the longitudinal axis of pin 40.

In order to easily operate the manway removal apparatus 10, a wrench tool 82 is provided which is capable of rotating shaft 76, mounting nut 64, and adjustment nut 54. The wrench tool 82 also has a fitting for inserting over outer tip 62 of stud 60, for rotating manway cover 20. While the manway removal apparatus is adapted for manual operation by maintenance personnel, without the use of additional mechanical devices, there has also been provided a combined rope and pulley connection shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, and generally designated 86. Thus, it is possible for the maintenance operator to initiate pivotal movement of lever link 28 by grasping base arm 34 or by exerting tension, in the direction of the arrows, on the rope and pulley arrangement 86.

Reference will now be made to a typical sequence of opera tion of the manway removal apparatus 10. Accordingly, double-arm linkage 24 is first pivotally secured to support arms 26 by means of pivot pin 32 which is bolted into place. The central opening 58 of plate link 56 is then positioned on stud 60. Before securing mounting nut 64, the arcuate slots 52 are adjusted with respect to lower pin 50, in order that the doublearm linkage 24 can be properly positioned prior to movement of the manway cover 20.

After the pressure within the internal chamber 14 has essentially been reduced to atmospheric pressure conditions, it is possible to move manway cover free of cover seat opening 22 and rotate manway'cover 20 substantially 90 in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of the cover seat opening 22. Thus, the minor axis of the ellipse defining the manway cover 20 is brought into a position which is substantially parallel to the major axis of the ellipse defining the cover seat open ing 22. After the rotation of manway cover 20 has been achieved, the mounting nut 64 is then threaded on stud 60 in order to firmly secure the manway cover 20 onto the plate link 56. With the double-arm linkage 26 placed in the proper position, the adjustment nut 54 and mounting nut 64 are securely tightened by means of tool 82. It is then possible to pivot the double-arm linkage 24 on pin 32, such that the manway cover 20 is moved into a position within internal housing 14 which is spaced-apart from the manway cover seat opening 22. The tool 82 is then positioned on the outer end of shaft 76 and rotated clockwise to bring the manway cover 20 into the rearward tilted position shown in the upper broken-line view of FIG. 1. In this manner, the yoke 70 imparts pivotal movement to the plate link 56, such that manway cover 20 is pivoted on pin 44 in a clockwise direction. By referring to the directional arrow arc of FIG. 1, it can be seen that rotation of shaft 76, will result in the leading edge portion of manway cover 20 being brought into a clearance position with respect to the manway cover seat opening 22.

By progressively inspecting the broken line views of FIG. 1, it can be appreciated that it is now possible to pivot the manway cover 20 from the forward tilted position at the upper portion of FIG. 1 to the clearance tilted position shown at the bottom of F IG. 1. This is achieved by pivoting the double-arm linkage 24 in a clockwise direction about pin 32, such that the leading edge portion of manway cover 20 is rotated along the broken line are shown in F IG. 1.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment, variations within the scope of the following claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim: 1. Apparatus for the removal of a manway cover from a housing having an internal chamber formed with a manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising:

means for rotating said manway cover substantially in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of said manway opening, said means for rotating said manway cover including a stud mounted on said manway cover exterior of said housing, and a crank 'arm capable of being keyed to the end of said stud for rotating said manway cover;

linkage means operatively connected to said manway cover and the exterior of said housing for moving said manway cover into a tilted position within said internal chamber which is spaced-apart from said manway opening, whereby said manway coveris capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a position exterior to said housing.

2. Apparatus for the removal of a manway cover from a housing having an internal chamber formed with a manway opening which is smaller in area than manway cover, comprismg:

means for rotating said manway cover substantially 90 in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of said manway opening;

linkage means operatively connected to said manway cover and the exterior of said housing for moving said manway cover into a tilted position within said internal chamber which is spaced-apart from said manway opening, said linkage means including a first link fixed to the exterior of said housing, a second link having one end pivoted on said first link and the other end pivoted on said manway cover, a third link pivotally mounted on said second link, said manway cover mounted on said third link, and a fourth link pivotally mounted on said third link, and means operatively connected between said fourth and said second link for constraining the pivotal movement of said second, third and fourth links, whereby said manway cover is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a position exterior to said housing.

3. Apparatus for the removal of a manway cover from a housing having an internal chamber formed with a manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising:

means for rotating said manway cover substantially 90 in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of said manway opening:

linkage means operatively connected to said manway cover and the exterior of said housing for moving said manway cover into a tilted position within said internal chamber which is spaced-apart from said manway opening, said linkage means including a first'link fixed to the exterior of said housing, a second link having one end pivoted on said first link and the other end pivoted on said manway cover, a third link pivotally mounted on said second link, said manway cover mounted on said third link, and a fourth link pivotally mounted on said third link, and means operatively connected between said fourth and said second link for constraining the pivotal movement of said second, third and fourth links, said means for constraining the pivotal movement includes a shaft connected at one end to said fourth link and the other end formed with external threads, and a fitting on said second link formed with an internally threaded bore for threadably engaging said shaft, such that rotation of said shaft in said fitting initiates pivotal movement of said third and fourth link with respect to said second link, whereby said manway cover is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a position exterior to said housing.

4. Apparatus for the removal of an elliptically shaped manway cover from a vessel having an internal chamber maintained under pressure and formed with an elliptically shaped manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising:

a support arm mounted on said pressure vessel exterior of said internal chamber;

a linkage pivotally mounted on said support link including a pair of substantially identically shaped and integrally formed combined base and arcuate links which are shaped for clearance through said manway opening upon pivotal movement of said linkage, a plate link pivotally mounted on said arcuate links, a and a yoke link pivotally mounted on said plate link, support pins mounted between the combined links for maintaining said combined links in a spaced-apart and coextensive position, said combined links formed with spacedapart and coextensive arcuate slots, a support link pivotally mounted on said support arm, a first pin for pivotally mounting said support link on each of the combined links, and a second pin on said support link capable of moving in said slots such that said linkage can be located in an adjusted position to impart pivotal movement to said manway cover;

means for moving said manway cover free of said opening, and rotating and securing said manway cover on said plate link such that said manway cover is capable of being rotated and secured into a first position wherein the minor axis of the ellipse defining said manway cover is substantially parallel and coextensive with the major axis of the ellipse defining said manway opening: and

means operatively connected between said yoke link and said base link for constraining and adjusting pivotal movement of said plate link, such that said manway cover can be moved into a second position in which said manway cover is tilted within said internal chamber and is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a third position exterior of said internal chamber.

5. Apparatus for the removal of an elliptically shaped manway cover from a vessel having an internal chamber maintained under pressure and formed with an elliptically shaped manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising:

a support arm mounted on said pressure vessel exterior of said internal chamber;

a linkage pivotally mounted on said support link including, a base link integrally formed with an arcuate link which is shaped for clearance through said manway opening upon pivotal movement of said linkage, a plate link pivotally mounted on said arcuate links, and a yoke link pivotally mounted on said plate link;

means for moving said manway cover free of said opening, and rotating and securing said manway cover on said plate link such that said manway cover is capable of being rotated and secured into a first position wherein the minor axis of the ellipse defining said manway cover is substantially parallel and coextensive with the major axis of the ellipse defining said manway opening, the means for rotating said manway cover including an externally threaded stud mounted on said manway cover exterior of said internal chamber, said plate link formed with a central opening for receiving said stud, an internally threaded nut for threadably engaging said stud, and a crank arm capable of being keyed to the end of said stud for rotating said manway cover and thereafter being keyed to said nut for securing said manway cover to said plate link; and means operatively connected between said yoke link and said base link for constraining and adjusting pivotal movement of said plate link such that said manway cover can be moved into a second position in which said man way cover is tilted within said internal chamber and is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a third position exterior of said internal chamber. 6. Apparatus for the removal of an elliptically shaped manway cover from a vessel having an internal chamber maintained under pressure and formed with an elliptically shaped manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising;

a support arm mounted on said pressure vessel exterior of said internal chamber;

a linkage pivotally mounted on said support link including, a base link integrally formed with an arcuate link which is shaped for clearance through said manway opening upon pivotal movement of said linkage, a plate link pivotally mounted on said arcuate links, and a yoke link pivotally mounted on said plate link;

means for moving said manway cover free of said opening, and rotating and securing said manway cover on said plate link such that said manway cover is capable of being rotated and secured into a first position wherein the minor axis of the ellipse defining said manway cover is substantially parallel and coextensive with the major axis of the ellipse defining said manway opening; and

means operatively connected between said yoke link and said base link for constraining and adjusting pivotal movement of said plate link including a shaft connected at one end to said yoke link and the other end formed with external threads, and a fitting on said base link formed with an internally threaded bore for threadably engaging said shaft, such that rotation of said shaft in said fittings initiates pivotal movement of said plate link and yoke with respect to said arcuate link, and said manway cover can be moved into a second position in which said manway cover is tilted within said internal chamber and is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a third position exterior of said internal chamber. 

1. Apparatus for the removal of a manway cover from a housing having an internal chamber formed with a manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising: means for rotating said manway cover substantially 90* in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of said manway opening, said means for rotating said manway cover including a stud mounted on said manway cover exterior of said housing, and a crank arm capable of being keyed to the end of said stud for rotating said manway cover; linkage means operatively connected to said manway cover and the exterior of said housing for moving said manway cover into a tilted position within said internal chamber which is spacedapart from said manway opening, whereby said manway cover is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a position exterior to said housing.
 2. Apparatus for the removal of a manway cover from a housing having an internal chamber formed with a manway opening which is smaller in area than manway cover, comprising: means for rotating said manway cover substantially 90* in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of said manway opening; linkage means operatively connected to said manway cover and the exterior of said housing for moving said manway cover into a tilted position within said internal chamber which is spaced-apart from said manway opening, said linkage means including a first link fixed to the exterior of said housing, a second link having one end pivoted on said first link and the other end pivoted on said manway cover, a third link pivotally mounted on said second link, said manway cover mounted on said third link, and a fourth link pivotally mounted on said third link, and means operatively connected between said fourth and said second link for constraining the pivotal movement of said second, third and fourth links, whereby said manway cover is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a position exterior to said housing.
 3. Apparatus for the removal of a manway cover from a housing having an internal chamber formed with a manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising: means for rotating said manway cover substantially 90* in a plane which is coextensive with the plane of said manway opening: linkage means operatively connected to said manway covEr and the exterior of said housing for moving said manway cover into a tilted position within said internal chamber which is spaced-apart from said manway opening, said linkage means including a first link fixed to the exterior of said housing, a second link having one end pivoted on said first link and the other end pivoted on said manway cover, a third link pivotally mounted on said second link, said manway cover mounted on said third link, and a fourth link pivotally mounted on said third link, and means operatively connected between said fourth and said second link for constraining the pivotal movement of said second, third and fourth links, said means for constraining the pivotal movement includes a shaft connected at one end to said fourth link and the other end formed with external threads, and a fitting on said second link formed with an internally threaded bore for threadably engaging said shaft, such that rotation of said shaft in said fitting initiates pivotal movement of said third and fourth link with respect to said second link, whereby said manway cover is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a position exterior to said housing.
 4. Apparatus for the removal of an elliptically shaped manway cover from a vessel having an internal chamber maintained under pressure and formed with an elliptically shaped manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising: a support arm mounted on said pressure vessel exterior of said internal chamber; a linkage pivotally mounted on said support link including a pair of substantially identically shaped and integrally formed combined base and arcuate links which are shaped for clearance through said manway opening upon pivotal movement of said linkage, a plate link pivotally mounted on said arcuate links, a and a yoke link pivotally mounted on said plate link, support pins mounted between the combined links for maintaining said combined links in a spaced-apart and coextensive position, said combined links formed with spaced-apart and coextensive arcuate slots, a support link pivotally mounted on said support arm, a first pin for pivotally mounting said support link on each of the combined links, and a second pin on said support link capable of moving in said slots such that said linkage can be located in an adjusted position to impart pivotal movement to said manway cover; means for moving said manway cover free of said opening, and rotating and securing said manway cover on said plate link such that said manway cover is capable of being rotated and secured into a first position wherein the minor axis of the ellipse defining said manway cover is substantially parallel and coextensive with the major axis of the ellipse defining said manway opening: and means operatively connected between said yoke link and said base link for constraining and adjusting pivotal movement of said plate link, such that said manway cover can be moved into a second position in which said manway cover is tilted within said internal chamber and is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a third position exterior of said internal chamber.
 5. Apparatus for the removal of an elliptically shaped manway cover from a vessel having an internal chamber maintained under pressure and formed with an elliptically shaped manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising: a support arm mounted on said pressure vessel exterior of said internal chamber; a linkage pivotally mounted on said support link including, a base link integrally formed with an arcuate link which is shaped for clearance through said manway opening upon pivotal movement of said linkage, a plate link pivotally mounted on said arcuate links, and a yoke link pivotally mounted on said plate link; means for moving said manway cover free of said opening, and rotating and securing said manway cover on said plate link such that said mAnway cover is capable of being rotated and secured into a first position wherein the minor axis of the ellipse defining said manway cover is substantially parallel and coextensive with the major axis of the ellipse defining said manway opening, the means for rotating said manway cover including an externally threaded stud mounted on said manway cover exterior of said internal chamber, said plate link formed with a central opening for receiving said stud, an internally threaded nut for threadably engaging said stud, and a crank arm capable of being keyed to the end of said stud for rotating said manway cover and thereafter being keyed to said nut for securing said manway cover to said plate link; and means operatively connected between said yoke link and said base link for constraining and adjusting pivotal movement of said plate link such that said manway cover can be moved into a second position in which said manway cover is tilted within said internal chamber and is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a third position exterior of said internal chamber.
 6. Apparatus for the removal of an elliptically shaped manway cover from a vessel having an internal chamber maintained under pressure and formed with an elliptically shaped manway opening which is smaller in area than said manway cover, comprising; a support arm mounted on said pressure vessel exterior of said internal chamber; a linkage pivotally mounted on said support link including, a base link integrally formed with an arcuate link which is shaped for clearance through said manway opening upon pivotal movement of said linkage, a plate link pivotally mounted on said arcuate links, and a yoke link pivotally mounted on said plate link; means for moving said manway cover free of said opening, and rotating and securing said manway cover on said plate link such that said manway cover is capable of being rotated and secured into a first position wherein the minor axis of the ellipse defining said manway cover is substantially parallel and coextensive with the major axis of the ellipse defining said manway opening; and means operatively connected between said yoke link and said base link for constraining and adjusting pivotal movement of said plate link including a shaft connected at one end to said yoke link and the other end formed with external threads, and a fitting on said base link formed with an internally threaded bore for threadably engaging said shaft, such that rotation of said shaft in said fittings initiates pivotal movement of said plate link and yoke with respect to said arcuate link, and said manway cover can be moved into a second position in which said manway cover is tilted within said internal chamber and is capable of being pivoted out of said internal chamber through said manway opening into a third position exterior of said internal chamber. 